Komono - A town of healing where you can soothe your soul and body, surrounded by nature

Komono Town, located just 30 minutes or so from Yokkaichi City, is a laid-back and picturesque area with a mountainous backdrop of the Suzuka Seven Mountain range. The area attracts visitors who come here to hike the mountains, soak in its many ho...

Mie's Unmissable Festival: the Ueno Tenjin Matsuri

In late October, the usual calm of Iga City in Mie Prefecture is suddenly shattered by the pounding of taiko drums, blazing lanterns, and oni (demons) processions. What's going on? It's the Ueno Tenjin Festival, the crown jewel in the pantheon of ...

Mie's Ever-evolving Tradition: Suzuka-zumi Ink

You’ve probably seen traditional Japanese sumi ink in some form, whether in traditional black ink-brush paintings or a piece of calligraphy. For almost 1,300 years, just three simple ingredients — soot, nikawa glue and natural fragrance — have bee...

Trip to Kumano Vol. 3: Kumano coastline boat cruise—A spectacular view of the rocky Kumano coastline created by nature, Blue Cave

Along with Onigajo, another beautiful scenic spot on the Ria Coast in the southern part of Mie Prefecture is the Blue Cave. While Onigajo is an amazing view that can be seen from the land as well as the sea, this spot is only able to be viewed fro...

Trip to Kumano Vol. 1: The Onigura & Torokko Old Mine Area Spend a cool summertime in the mountains of Kumano!

Summer in Japan is famous for its extremely hot, damp and humid climate, but if you head to the mountains, you can enjoy cooler temperatures, surrounded by nature. On this trip, I went to the mountainous area of Kumano City. Kumano City, located i...

Home to Fun Things at Meoto Yokocho, Ise

ISE Meotoiwa Meoto Yokocho shops, restaurants and an aquarium are a fun visit for the whole family when you are in the Ise area. Situated by the sea and the entrance to the famous Meoto Iwa (“Wedded Rocks)” is Meoto Yokocho, a shopping and restaur...

VISON: A place of health, relaxation and becoming one with nature

I recently had the pleasure of visiting a newly opened, on June 5, section of the expanding VISON, well-being and relaxation resort facilities located in Taki Town. So what is VISON? VISON is a bit of a play on words in Japanese and means “beaut...

A Rare Common Thread: Ise Cotton

Celebrated as “the spiritual wealth of the world,” the warm yet breathable, strong yet soft, wrinkle resistant cotton from Ise is a magic fabric that gets better with age. In Japan, it transformed the economy, culture and fashion of people across ...

Nabana no Sato - A one-of-a-kind feast for the senses!

Imagine an endless field full of flowers painting the land in swathes of bright red, yellow and white, the horizon fringed in clouds of cherry blossoms against a big blue sky. As dusk descends, paths lined among flowering trees illuminate the nigh...

Take an enlightening journey into the history of haiku in Iga City.

Haiku is a distinctive style of Japanese poetry that is known for its simple structure and the beautiful imagery it can evoke. One of the revered masters of haiku was Matsuo Basho, who was born in what is now Iga City in Mie Prefecture. Visitors w...

Explore the natural wonder and rich culture of Mie Prefecture on a two-day adventure.

The journey from Osaka to Mie Prefecture will take you into a completely different part of Japan. Over a two-day visit, you can hike the Hajikami-toge Pass on the World Heritage Site Kumano-kodo pilgrimage trails, relax in an outdoor onsen surroun...

Visit Ise Jingu and learn about a 1,300-year-old ritual at one of Japan’s most sacred spots.

Ise Jingu is a sacred space in Japan with 125 shrines and boasts an area roughly half the same size as Paris. For most Japanese people, a visit to Ise Jingu is something they must do at least once in their lifetime. Approximately 2,000 years ago, ...

In the Aoyamakogen Highlands, sustainable energy is being produced in harmony with nature.

Japanese culture has always had a deep respect for the natural world and the country is committed to developing renewable energy sources. This focus on achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will help to ensure that future generations have...

Discover the secrets of the ninja at Iga Ueno Castle near where they originated from in feudal Japan

The ninja hold a special place in Japanese history and are known around the world as symbols of stealth and unconventional warfare. These mysterious spies of feudal Japan practiced the art of ninjutsu, which was developed in Iga (now Mie Prefectur...

Step into the past in the most well preserved post town on the route to Ise Jingu

For more than 1,000 years, Japanese people have been making the pilgrimage to Ise Jingu, the most sacred shrine in Japan. In the Edo Period, post towns were established along the Tokaido Road route between the ancient capital of Edo (now Tokyo) an...

Enter a fantasy world of pop culture where you can find all of your favorite characters.

At the Bankyo Figure Museum in Taki Town, Mie Prefecture, visitors can see over 20,000 figures from genres of Japanese pop culture, such as anime, manga and what is sometimes referred to as “Cool Japan”. For those in Japan who identify as “otaku”,...

Visit sacred Ise Jingu Shrine and explore traditional streets and shops in Okage Yokocho.

When Japanese people travel to Mie Prefecture,they usually visit Ise Jingu, the most sacred shinto shrine in Japan. Worshippers in Edo Period(1600-1868) felt it was necessary to make the journey and pray at the sacred shrine at least once in their...

Hiking the Hajikami-toge Pass on the Historic Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trails

The Kumano kodo is an extensive network of pilgrimage trails that has been in use for over 1,000 years and visitors can experience a special combination of nature and tradition on these routes. It is one of only two pilgrimage routes in the world ...

Experience the beauty and tradition of ceramics at Banko no Sato Hall

Visitors to Banko no Sato Hall in Yokkaichi will have a chance to appreciate traditional Banko ware. This distinctive clay pottery has been crafted in Mie Prefecture for over 300 years and the tradition lives on in the showroom and hands-on experi...

Enjoy exclusive and exquisite Iga Beef at one of Mie’s most popular sukiyaki restaurants

Mie Prefecture is famous in Japan for producing delicious beef under strict conditions. The most well known is Matsusaka Beef, which can be found around the country in upscale restaurants and meat shops. The other famous locally raised beef is Iga...